Tour Information

Join Udesign Photo Tours, Glenn Tamblingson / Tour Lead Photographer and astrophotography specialists Phil Hart and Brad Le Brocque for an instructional photography tour through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. Follow in the footsteps of Ansel Adams as you photograph the iconic scenery that has inspired and captivated artists for generations. On this guided excursion you will learn how to create stunning imagery of the majestic mountain scenery, geothermal wonders and diverse wildlife. This is one photo adventure that you won’t want to miss!

They will lead your photography workshops and take you to some spectacular places with many insider secrets. Experience some of the very best locations that Grand Teton National Park has to offer.

The Total Exclipse Experience

If you've ever seen a solar eclipse on television or seen pictures in a book, dismiss those images. They don't begin to tell the story. If that's all there were to the event, there wouldn't be tens of thousands of people traveling across countries and continents to get to the eclipse. Everyone would watch it on the evening news.

Here's a brief overview of what the TV images cannot show you. The partial eclipse begins about an hour before the total eclipse. During that period, the silhouette of the Moon starts to pass in front of the disc of the Sun. If you look toward the bright Sun through a protective filter, which will be provided, you can see by eye that the black outline of the Moon's disc is creeping across the Sun's disc very gradually. All around you, the air takes on a strange hue and an eeriness that is not seen under any other conditions. As the eclipse advances, all of nature senses the change. Birds come to roost, cocks will crow, and all manner of animals and plants revert to their nighttime posture even in the middle of the day. So you can already see that the phenomenon is considerably more influential to nature than, say, the Sun going behind a cloud. Clouds block the light of the Sun, but eclipses block all wavelengths of solar radiation.

The landscape gets progressively darker, and temperatures start to drop. Only those standing under the approaching shadow sense these effects. If one looks at the ground under a tree with leaves, or anywhere light from the Sun passes through small spaces, each such hole will project an image of the crescent Sun blocked by the advancing Moon on the ground. Hundreds of crescent images may be visible all over the ground.

If one has a view toward the west, the advancing shadow of the total eclipse may be visible even before it arrives. It is especially noticeable if a cloud bank or bright landscape is in the direction where the blackness will cover it before it reaches your own position. The shadow advances at an average rate of 50 km (30 miles) per minute.

In the final minutes before the eclipse becomes total, many more things happen. Shadow bands may suddenly appear and shimmer over all ground objects. The Sun's atmosphere, called its corona, starts to become visible as a bright ring around the black lunar disk. The disappearing crescent shrinks to a brilliant gem on the edge of the brightening corona. This effect is called the "diamond ring". Mountains along the lunar limb break up the last of the crescent into "Baily's beads". The inner solar atmosphere, called the chromosphere, makes its reddish presence known -- called the "flash spectrum". Brighter stars and planets appear. Solar prominences, gigantic explosions along the Sun's limb, may be seen with the aid of binoculars. A total solar eclipse is a multifaceted experience, and the impression it leaves on the viewer is one of complete awe.

Join the Following Award Winning Photographers

Glenn TamblingsonProfessional nature photographer fell in love with the landscapes and shear beauty of the Grand Tetons that still amazes him today. His comment as he was preparing to head home on that first trip was, " there isn't enough film in the world to capture this all"

Phil HartPhil is an engineer by day and astronomer and photographer by night and has been enjoying and photographing the night sky for more than twenty years. His award winning photos have been published in books, magazines and popular websites around the world and his previous eclipse footage has been featured in an ad for Porsche! Phil's talent has also been recognized with a prestigious 'David Malin Astrophotograhy Award'.

Phil is author of the Shooting Stars eBook, has shot tutorial videos with Canon Australia and runs Night Sky Photography workshops with Michaels Camera Store, one of the largest retail camera stores in Australia.

Brad Le BrocqueHis interest in Photography lead to an interest in Astronomy, putting the two together seemed like a natural progression. His nature, landscape and macro work have developed along side his involvement with the camera club movement. Brad has been running workshops for photographers of all levels, on a variety of the topics for many years. He has won Gold Medals/plaque's at National and International salons of photography in a variety of disciplines, he has also judged at an International and national level.

Brad has been recognized by the David Malin Astrophotography awards on numerous occasions. He has been president of Maitland camera club for six years, President of the Northern Photographic federation and convener of their prestigious annual conference for several years. He is also the curator of number exhibitions every year.

*Disclaimer:An important point : Our aim at Udesign is to make sure that you take home the best shots possible and we have assembled a team of expert photographers to help you take advantage of what for many will be a once in a lifetime experience. Our experts have honed their techniques over many years, so it is unrealistic to expect to match their best in such a short period of time. Many of the shots on the site have been taken with nothing more than a camera and tripod, others with specialized telescope equipment. It will however with the correct guidance, and within the limits of your own equipment, be possible to produce stunning images that you can keep forever and show family and friends. Nothing however will really compare to the emotional impact of actually being there.

Itinerary

Wednesday, August 16thSunrise session at Oxbow Bend Turnout to capture reflections of the Tetons range shooting from the glassy side of the Snake River. Then it’s off to the Jackson Lake Dam for panoramic views of the lake and mountain range.Before lunch will shall visit Willow Flats Overlook to look for wildlife on the wide open plains, then after lunch we will take the scenic drive up Signal Mountain for a panoramic sunset session. (B,D)

Thursday, August 17thSunrise shoot over the iconic Morman Row Barns where you will capture the Teton Mountain Range with rustic barns in the foreground. Then we shall visit the Blacktail Ponds Overlook for more mountain views and possible wildlife sightingsAntelope Flats will be our next stop to look for and photograph deer and elk, then our morning finishes at the iconic Snake River Lookout a location made famous by Ansell Adams in the 1940’s.On the way back to our hotel we will stop at the Oxbow Bend for Sunset photography. (B, D)

Friday, August 18thSunrise photography at the Jenny Lake Trail to shoot the mountains over the lake waters. We drive to Taggert Lake for an amazing hike and more photo opportunities. We shall break for lunch and a rest at the Teton Village where you can walk around the shops before we all meet at a local restaurant for dinner.Following dinner we will have a review session to share your photographs and to discuss advanced techniques for landscape and wildlife photography. (B, D)

Saturday, August 19thAnother early sunrise session when we head to Schwabachers Landing to photograph the surrounding marsh and mountains. We will then make our way to Antelope Flats to look for wildlife.After lunch we will visit the highly acclaimed National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Wyoming.After dinner we shall join Glenn to discuss how you Post Process and edit your photographs using Photoshop and Lightroom. (B, D)

Tuesday, August 22ndAfter breakfast we will make our way to Yellowstone National Park to explore the unique features and to photograph the Grand Prismatic Spring. After the hike we will head back to the Midway Geyser Basin for more photo opportunities.Moving south we shall spend most of the day exploring easy trails of the Upper Geyser Basin where you will see hot springs, geysers and pools. Our visit will be timed to visit Old Faithful during eruption.Lunch will be at the Old Faithful Lodge to rest before we walk down to the Morning Glory Pool.Our drive back to our accommodation will be a drive down Firehole Canyon along rivers and cascades. (B, D)

Wednesday, August 23rdOur last full day will take in waterfalls, wildlife of Yellowstone National Park, our first stop will be Artist Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It over looks Yellowstone River as it cascades down the Canyon as the waterfall to the lower falls. Weather permitting with sunlight we should get an amazing rainbow shot.Then it’s off to the Upper Falls before breaking for lunch. After lunch we will be taking a scenic drive through Hayden Valley which is known for it’s wildlife in Yellowstone NP.After our last nights dinner we shall be reviewing and discussing images taken by you over a few drinks and snacks. (B, D)

Thursday, August 24thAfter breakfast you are FREE to take a last look around Jackson Hole or leave for another exciting photographic adventure. (B)

*** Our Tour itinerary is flexible and subject to change due to weather and light conditions.

Inclusions and Equipment

INCLUSIONS: 10 Breakfasts 9 Dinners 9 Nights accommodation All transport during the tour in a 15-Seater air conditioned bus. Sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Airport transfers for all customers arriving / departing on tour dates.

National Museum of Wildlife & Art:The Museum’s permanent collection of over 5,000 cataloged items includes paintings, sculpture, and works on paper by over 100 distinguished artists ranging from early American Tribes through contemporary masters. The Museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions are augmented with innovative educational and scholarly programs emphasizing art appreciation, art history, natural science, creative writing, and American history.

SEASONALITY AND WEATHER: Temperatures vary throughout the summer. On average summer nights are almost always cool, temperatures ranging from 5 Celsius (40 Farenheit), getting considerably chilly in mountain locations. Daytime temperatures recover drastically from 20-24 Celcius (70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit). You can expect clouds to appear around noon and by mid-afternoon you may see scattered thundershowers. Land transport provided will be an air-conditioned bus. Many walking tours on uneven surfaces.

Accommodation

Jackson Lake Lodge

Imagine looking out your window to a wide expanse of fields surrounding a blue mountain lake, with moose, elk, and bison wandering close by. Then rising above this scene is one of the most photographed mountain ranges in the world—the Grand Teton Range. All of it so close, you feel like you can touch it. This is the thrill you can expect from the historical Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park.

When it comes to Grand Teton National Park lodging, Jackson Lake Lodge is the largest of all the eco-friendly resorts. The lobby is where it all begins, with 60-foot panoramic windows that frame the Teton Range and Jackson Lake.

Testimonials

We had a very special time on the Canyon Lands tour. We encountered a wide range of very spectacular landscapes which offered a myriad of enticing photographic opportunities. Everything was very well organised and accommodation was very comfortable

Murray Foote
Canyon Lands Tour

Stunning mountain scenery and wildlife. I couldn't think of a better location for an outdoor photo shoot. I learnt so much it has taken my photography to another level.

John Smith
Grand Tetons Photo Tour

I loved photographing The Big Apple on a Udesign Photo Tour. It was quite an experience and one I would highly recommend.